Crusaders prevail in Super Bowl

FOXBOROUGH – Bishop Fenwick?s football team looked at all of the obstacles it was said to be facing in the state Division 5 Super Bowl and basically just shrugged them off.Sure, Northbridge had a lot of size up front. No problem. Speed and technique took care of that.A sophomore sensation at quarterback with a three-generation pedigree? Forget it. Fenwick had Nick Bona.Northbridge proved to be no match for the hungry Crusaders Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, as Fenwick ran both over and through the Rams en route to a 28-0 win in a performance that might have even been more dominating than the final score would indicate.When it comes to Super Bowls, Northbridge has almost set the standard. Coach Ken LaChapelle has brought his Rams to the post-season game 10 times in his career. But none of that mattered Saturday. Fenwick was just better.The Crusaders gave an indication as to what Northbridge was in store for on its first possession. After holding the Rams to a three-and-out on their first go-around (snuffing out a reverse on the very first play), Fenwick?s Bona threaded the needle between two defenders and found Eric Razney from the Northbridge 39, hitting him at about the 10-yard line. Razney did the rest, running it in for the score.?It was a basic smash route,” said coach Dave Woods. “We saw the way they were going to play defense, and we felt we had a good matchup with Eric, and his speed. We practiced it all week, and we got good execution on it.”The defensive stand by Fenwick was a portent of things to come. Northbridge ran for only 11 yards for the day, as the Crusaders completely took away sophomore quarterback Cody Schofer?s running (he ran for more yards than he threw this season).?I thought our defensive line really got after it,” said Woods. “And when they flushed him out (of the pocket), our linebackers closed up real quick.”This was huge, because Northbridge?s strength going into the game was its massive (and experienced) offensive line.?But we had quickness on defense,” Woods said. “Their coaches complimented us on it afterward. When you have speed in high school, it?s a huge advantage.”Fenwick put together a nine-play, 62-yard drive in the second quarter, with Lynn?s Rufus Rushins taking it in for the final two yards. Kyle Russell?s extra point made it 14-0.Despite the opening pass, Fenwick chose to keep the ball on the ground for most of the game, and ended up rushing for 230 yards (170 of them by Rushins, to go along with his three touchdowns).?We took advantage on some pass plays, but when you have Rufus and Nick running, there really isn?t any need to put it up too much,” Woods said (Bona finished with 64 yards on the ground).On Fenwick?s first possession of the third quarter, the Crusaders faced a third-and-two from the Northbridge 49. Rushins got the call and went right up the gut, following the block of center Justice Andrade (also from Lynn) and running untouched to the end zone for the touchdown that — for all intents and purposes — iced the game, and the first-ever undisputed state championship, for the Crusaders. Rushins added a five-yard score late in the third quarter.?This is undoubtedly the best team we?ve ever had here,” said Woods. “This hasn?t sunk in yet. I?m looking around, and I?m seeing guys like Bona and Razney, and I know I?m never going to coach them ever again, and that?s going to be hard.?But I?m so proud of them,” said Woods. “They?ve worked awfully hard for this.”